More than a dozen immigration detention facilities have gone over a year without inspection under revised ICE policies
More Than a Dozen Immigration Detention Facilities Remain Uninspected for Over a Year Under Revised ICE Policies
More than a dozen immigration detention facilities have gone over a year without inspection under revised ICE policies, raising concerns about oversight and detainee conditions. A CBS News analysis found that 15 of 45 detention centers housing 500 or more individuals had not been inspected in more than 12 months by late June. Additionally, five facilities lacked any recorded inspection, according to the findings. This shift comes as ICE reduced the frequency of routine inspections from twice yearly to once annually or every two years, a change criticized by immigration custody experts as weakening an already imperfect system.
Experts Warn of Reduced Oversight and Its Consequences
Dr. Annette Decker, a UCLA medical school assistant professor who studied health outcomes among detainees, emphasized the risks of infrequent inspections. “Many facilities have ongoing issues, and regular checks are essential to track progress on fixing them,” she said. “The longer gaps between evaluations raise concerns about ensuring healthcare and other conditions meet standards.” Decker’s research underscores how underfunded and stretched systems can lead to lapses in detainee welfare, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“It’s concerning if now they’re doing this less frequently, because that’s a pretty big time gap between evaluations to just ensure that healthcare and other conditions are being met,” Decker told CBS News.
Detention Population Surges and Escalating Challenges
The increased scrutiny of detention conditions coincides with the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation strategy, which led to record-high numbers of detainees. Last year saw the highest death rate in ICE custody since 2020, highlighting the growing pressure on facilities to maintain standards while housing more individuals. In May, reports of spoiled food and inadequate medical care sparked a hunger strike at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall and sustained protests outside the facility. A recent government review also identified hazardous conditions at ICE’s largest facility, Camp East Montana in El Paso, further fueling criticism of the oversight framework.
Revised Inspection Framework and Funding Shifts
Since 2019, ICE inspections have consistently flagged at least one deficiency in nearly 90% of cases, from insufficient suicide checks to improper food storage and incomplete incident reports. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson defended the policy changes, stating, “The frequency of inspections is based on facility type, detention capacity, and operational function,” and that “ICE maintains a robust compliance program to meet contractually obligated standards.”
The updated framework, implemented last year, prioritizes annual inspections for dedicated ICE facilities and biennial reviews for non-dedicated ones, such as county jails. By April 2025, 203 facilities held ICE detainees, compared to 104 in February. The spokesperson noted that smaller or non-dedicated facilities with limited populations receive inspections every other year. However, some of these facilities hold as many detainees as dedicated ones, with five averaging over 500 people, creating a potential discrepancy in oversight.
Legislative Adjustments and Persistent Concerns
A budget measure approved in April allocated $20 million for inspections by the Inspector General, tasked with monitoring DHS. However, the latest funding bill for ICE and CBP does not mandate ODO inspections, leaving a gap in accountability. Despite the reduced inspection schedule, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted that even under semiannual reviews, there was no clear method to assess the program’s effectiveness in maintaining detainee standards. This lack of measurable outcomes has prompted calls for legislative reform to ensure transparency and compliance.
Implications for Detainee Welfare and Systemic Reform
The prolonged inspection gaps have significant implications for detainee welfare, particularly in facilities with high occupancy rates. With more than a dozen immigration detention facilities remaining uninspected for over a year, advocates argue that the current system fails to address systemic issues promptly. For example, repeated reports of overcrowding, insufficient medical care, and poor living conditions suggest that delays in inspections could exacerbate these problems, leading to longer-term risks for detainees.
As the number of immigration detainees continues to rise, the revised policies have sparked debates about whether they adequately balance efficiency with accountability. Critics warn that the lack of frequent inspections could allow problems to persist unnoticed, while supporters argue that the changes reflect a more targeted approach to resource allocation. The challenge lies in ensuring that the revised framework remains effective in protecting the rights and well-being of those in immigration detention.